Updates on Military Action in Iraq and Syria - Page 2

Former Al-Qaeda Trainer in Afghanistan Killed in Idlib by the Syrian Army

The former Al-Qaeda trainer and Harakat ‘Ahrar Al-Sham field commander, Hafs Al-Masri, was killed during the Islamist offensive at the provincial capital of Idlib in northern Syria.

Al-Masri – an Egyptian native – spent over three years combatting the U.S. Armed Forces and training Al-Qaeda militants in both Afghanistan and Pakistan before he turned his attention to Syria, where he believed his “mujahiddeen” were combatting the “murtadeen” (apostates) for the country.

The Harakat ‘Ahrar Al-Sham field commander joins a long list of former Al-Qaeda operatives to be killed in Syria, including relatives of the 9/11 hijackers.

Syrian Army Takes Captures Most of Sakr Island in Deir Ezzor

The Syrian Arab Army’s 104th Airborne Brigade of the Republican Guard has achieved a significant breakthrough at Haweeja Sakr in Deir Ezzor, as they captured almost all of the island after six grueling months of back and forth clashes with the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS).

According to a military source, the SAA’s 104th Brigade conducted a number of raids on ISIS positions in the northern sector of the Al-‘Alaleesh Quarter of Sakr Island, killing 22 enemy combatants and destroying an armored vehicle mounted with a 14.5mm machine gun during their operations.

Continuing their progress in southern Deir Ezzor, the SAA’s 104th Brigade progressed into the village of Al-Baanour, following their success in the Al-Shardah Mountains.

Fierce clashes were reported between ISIS militants and the SAA’s 137th Brigade at the Al-Haweeqa Quarter in northern Deir Ezzor; this led to a number of airstrikes by the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) after a large ISIS contingent emerged near the eastern perimeter of the Al-Haweeqa Quarter.

Fighting was also reported in the villages of Al-Jafra, Al-Muri’iyah, and Al-Shoula; there was also firefights reported at the Rashidiyah, Al-Kanamat, Al-Sina’a, and Al-Rusafa Quarters of Deir Ezzor City.

ISIS Reenters Yarmouk Camp; Three-way Battle for Control

On Thursday morning, the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) reentered the Al-Yarmouk Camp after being forced out last night by the Hamas-affiliated “Aknef Beit Al-Maqdis” militia; this attack resulted in ISIS’ capture of three quarters of the district, including the Yarmouk Girls School, Palestine Mosque, 15th Street, and most of 30th Street.

ISIS also successfully entered the Al-Tadamon District located east of the Al-Yarmouk Camp, capturing the rebel-held territory and taking control of Palestine Street after clashing with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) backed “Palestine Liberation Army.”

By noon on Thursday, Palestinian forces loyal to the SAA launched a counter-offensive at Al-Tadamon and Al-Yarmouk, where they were able to retake Palestine Street and 30th Street before nightfall dissipated the violence engulfing this volatile area.

According to a Palestinian source in the nearby Jarmana Camp, the militias that took part in the SAA-backed offensive were the PLA, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC), and Fatah Al-Intifada – these groups were originally in the Yarmouk Camp before the Syrian Conflict.

For Aknef Al-Maqdis, the recapture of the Yarmouk School Street became an integral battle, as ISIS’ control over this area wedged the rebel forces without an outlet to retreat.

Aknef Al-Maqdis was successful in retaking Yarmouk School Street; however, ISIS was able to reestablish their control over the rebel part of 30th Street.

Fighting has died down in Al-Yarmouk and Al-Tadamon, but it is likely to pick-up on Friday morning.

US, Britain, France, Jordan refuse to name ISIL as separate terror group

Russia says the United States, Britain, France, and Jordan have rejected Syria’s proposal to add ISIL to the United Nations Security Council’s sanctions list as a separate terrorist group.

"In the UN Security Council's Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, the United States, Britain, France, and Jordan have blocked Syria’s request supported by Russia to include the Islamic State (ISIL) terrorist group in the sanctions list as a separate group," read the statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday.

According to reports, ISIL Takfiri terrorist group is currently mentioned as al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) in the UN’s sanctions list.

Moscow, however, said such naming fails to “reflect the true state of affairs” in Syria and Iraq, adding that the terrorist group did not evolve as a branch of al-Qaeda, but was funded and supported by the US and its allies.

"This position has an obvious political motivation - to disclaim responsibility for the growing scale of Islamic State's (ISIL) activities and prove that it is not a new entity that has been brought into existence by the implementation of plans to depose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but the former al-Qaida in Iraq,” the statement added.

The four countries’ decision shows that “the anti-Assad coalition bears no moral or political responsibility” for the creation of ISIL, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Moscow also lashed out at Washington for the emergence of extremist groups in Iraq.

"It won't hurt to mention that AQI owes its emergence to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003," the statement added.

The ISIL terrorist group, with members from several Western countries, controls parts of Iraq and Syria, and has been involved in a series of heinous crimes against civilians and government forces in the two Arab countries.

According to Al-Jazeera, Israeli fighter jets bombed bases in the Al-Qalamoun mountains, where strategic bases are located housing long-range missiles; IDF: "We do not comment on foreign reports."
IAF F-16 fighter jet

Israel Air Force fighter jets struck Syrian military bases housing long-range missiles on Friday, the Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite television network said on Saturday.

According to the report, the bases, near the Syrian-Lebanese border, belong to Assad regime brigades that possess weapons such as Scud missiles. The attacks allegedly targeted multiple targets in the area.